Technology companies must operate globally to survive, unless they are content with eventually being acquired by a truly global enterprise, be it a multinational, or a mid-sized, but globally-minded company.
Successful technology companies with a proven model in an emerging market can expand to the large, developed Western economies (Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific) through acquisitions. There is private equity available to fund those acquisitions.
Investments in emerging companies are more likely to succeed if invested company is tied to one operating in a developed economy.
Technology start-ups from emerging economies have similar challenges to evolve to their “growth stage” of corporate development, but their pre-eminence in their domestic economies will give them a more solid foundation from which to launch an international / global expansion, especially if done through acquisitions, as opposed to organically.
Read Jordi's blog on emerging markets, technology deals, entrepreneurship and iinnovation across the world.